With the 2026 FIFA World Cup drawing closer, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has unveiled a $18.2 million proposal to streamline transportation for fans attending the nine World Cup matches scheduled at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The plan, which will be reviewed by DART’s Board of Directors later this week, details what will be needed to efficiently move thousands of soccer fans between key transit hubs and the stadium, which currently lacks a direct rail connection.
DART’s strategy hinges on a hybrid system of expanded train lines, express buses, and private shuttles, reported NBC 5. DART projects that nearly one in four attendees, an estimated 10,000 riders per game, will rely on public transportation during the World Cup games.
Under DARTS initially proposed plan:
- Trinity Railway Express trains would run between Dallas’ Victory Station and CentrePort in Fort Worth, a route that could serve 5,800 passengers per game.
- Capacity upgrades, including lengthening trains to four cars each, make up nearly half of the $18.2 million price tag.
- From CentrePort, fans would be ferried the “last mile” to the stadium by private shuttles funded by the North Central Texas Council of Governments.
- A “bus bridge” of 50 DART buses would operate on a dedicated express lane along I-30, moving around 4,000 more fans directly from Victory Station to a parking lot near the stadium.
However, the city’s transportation plans are just one piece of a much larger logistical puzzle for the World Cup games.
As one of 16 host cities across North America, Dallas is allegedly required to submit detailed infrastructure and operations plans to FIFA for approval. A draft version from the North Texas host committee was submitted last month, with final approval allegedly expected by March of next year.
The World Cup, which America, Mexico, and Canada will co-host, is expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors to North Texas and hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Dallas has also been selected to host the international broadcast hub for the 2026 games. Main operations will take place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.